CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Republic's Social Democrats hold their closing election rally before likely victory this weekend

Record ID: 346848

  • Title: CZECH REPUBLIC: Czech Republic's Social Democrats hold their closing election rally before likely victory this weekend
  • Date: 24th October 2013
  • Summary: BRNO, CZECH REPUBLIC (OCTOBER 24, 2013) (REUTERS TV) CZECH SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (CSSD) LEAFLETS BEING DISTRIBUTED AT RALLY CSSD LEADER BOHUSLAV SOBOTKA ON STAGE PEOPLE LISTENING SOBOTKA ON STAGE (SOUNDBITE) (Czech) CZECH SOCIAL DEMOCRATIC PARTY (CSSD) LEADER, BOHUSLAV SOBOTKA, SAYING: "We need a stable and competent government which won't argue and fight." PEOPLE APP
  • Embargoed: 8th November 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Czech Republic
  • Country: Czech Republic
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAAI02L288P9E0YUY5PAX9K3E3U
  • Story Text: As the Czech Republic looks sure to swing left in this weekend's early election, the country's likely Social Democrat winners held their final rally in the town of Brno on Thursday (October 24).
    Voters look set to punish centre-right parties for spending cuts and graft scandals that have marred their nearly seven-year rule in elections which start on Friday (October 25) and last until Saturday (October 26) at 1200GMT.
    Opinion polls show the Social Democrats (CSSD), led by ex-finance minister Bohuslav Sobotka, emerging as the largest party with about 26 percent but they will need a coalition partner.
    The outgoing centre-right parties, the Civic Democrats and the TOP09, whose cabinet collapsed over illegal surveillance and corruption allegations in June, are headed for a heavy defeat, tipped to win only 6.5 and 9 percent respectively.
    Sobotka said he would seek to form a coalition with smaller parties to give him a majority in parliament.

    "We don't stand as candidates to stay in opposition, we want to change the situation in our state and we can do it only if we are going to be part of the government. So it is necessary for us to get a strong mandate from the voters to set up the government. We will look for a coalition but we wont cooperate with ODS (Civic Democratic Party) or TOP 09 who are responsible for the decay and mistakes of the past years. We will find our partner on the left or in the middle of the political spectrum," Sobotka said.
    The central European country of 10.5 million people has started to emerge slowly from six quarters of recession but the outlook for economic growth remains weak as households are reluctant to spend.
    The Social Democrats plan to help poorer Czechs by rolling back the previous government's unpopular pensions and healthcare reforms. They want to raise taxes for big firms and top earners to keep the budget deficit below 3 percent of national output.
    One CSSD supporter at the rally said she was keen to see them victorious.

    "I am voting for them because I think that only they have the right social feelings. I was very disappointed last time when they didn't get the chance to set up the government. I am their fan and am crossing my fingers for them," Monika Mozolova said.
    New anti-establishment parties tapping into Czechs' frustration with sleaze are also expected to score well and this may complicate the coalition talks.
    Young voter Jan was still undecided.

    "I still don't know who I am going to vote for. That's why I came here and will see," he said.
    Sobotka, 42, has broken a taboo by saying he is ready to form a minority cabinet that would be supported in parliament by the Communists, who have not had any share in power since their totalitarian rule ended in the 1989 "Velvet Revolution".
    Sobotka believes his party needs at least 30 percent of the vote for a minority government to function successfully with the backing of the Communists, who polls show becoming the second biggest party with 18 percent of the vote.
    But he may instead have to turn to one of the newer parties, such as the centrist ANO (Yes) movement of business tycoon Andrej Babis, whose anti-graft message has struck a chord with voters. ANO is tipped to pick up 16.5 percent of the vote.
    Voters in Brno were well aware that coalition talks could be difficult.

    "I hope they will fulfil they promises. Now it is important (to see) who they will cooperate with," pensioner Milada Bedanova said.
    Sobotka's likely victory could be upset, however, by a personal rivalry with Czech president Milos Zeman dating back to a vote among lawmakers 10 years that foiled Zeman's first attempt to become president.
    Zeman has the right to appoint the prime minister and while he may not veto Sobotka outright, he could use his allies within Sobotka's party to undermine his rival and pick someone else.
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